Method and apparatus for producing a tobacco rod

ABSTRACT

A filler rod of shredded tobacco particles is obtained by trimming diametrically two opposite sides of an elongated filler stream adjacent to two longitudinally spaced portions of plural paths along which the stream is moved by a system of conveyors. At least one of the trimming devices is adjustable in dependency on measurements performed by a testing device which determines the amount of tobacco shreds in successive increments of the rod. The stream is compacted pneumatically or mechanically upstream of and/or adjacent to the trimming devices.

United States Patent I 2,660,178 11/1953 Rault.... 2,969,104

Inventor Jurgen Gomann Hamburg, Germany Appl. No. 793,647 Filed Jan. 24, 1969 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Assignee Haunl-Werke Korber & Co. KG

llamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Priority Feb. 7, 1968 Germany 1' 16 67 249.9

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO ROD 16 Claims, 3 Dravvlng Figs. 7

U.S. Cl 131/24 1), 131/84 B, 131/84 C Int. A24c 05/18 FieldoiSearch 131/211), 84 B, 84 C, 84 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,808,794 6/1931 Stelzer 131/21 D UX 1/1961 Schubertetal "I: 131/s4cux Primary Examiner.loseph S. Reich Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A filler rod of shredded tobacco particles is obtained by trimming diametrically two opposite sides of an elongated filler stream adjacent to two longitudinally spaced portions of plural paths along which the stream is moved by a system of conveyors. At least one of the trimming devices is adjustable in dependency on measurements performed by a testing device which determines the amount of tobacco shreds in successive increments of the rod. The stream is compacted pneumatically or mechanically upstream of and/or adjacent to the trimming devices.

33+ {211 ,lfe 2 217 333 m 2a 262 218 344 Z1 297 A Jr E,

/ 332 f\ M M I V 21a 286 l \Q H h \V II H g N A 227 C 231 r 6 I203 K501 PATENTEnsErzsisn 3508552 sum 1 m 3 //V l E N TOR M 661/ 661mm METHOD AND APPARATUS IFOR PRODUCDIG A TOBACCO ROD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to amethod and apparatus for producing rods of fibrous particles, particularly for producing filler rods which consist of shredded tobacco particles and are thereupon wrapped to form cigarette rods which are ready to be subdivided into tobacco rod sections of unit length or multiple unit length. The filler rods may be used in the production of plain cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or cheroots, as well as in the production of filter cigarettes or like tobacco-containing rod-shaped smoking products.

It is already known to subject a travelling stream of tobacco shreds to several trimming actions. Canadian Pat. No. 742,932 discloses a cigarette rod machine wherein an exposed side of a travelling tobacco stream is subjected to a first or coarse trimming action and thereupon to a second or fine trimming action. Each such trimming action results in removal of some surplus. The first trimming action is intended to eliminate fluctuations in the height of the stream and the second trimming action is carried out to reduce the likelihood of fluctuations in the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the rod. A drawback of the just described rod cigarette machine is that all of the surplus is removed from one and the same side of the stream.

' This cannot eliminate all unevennesses in the cross-sectional configuration of the resulting rod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of my invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus which can be resorted to in the production of an improved rod consisting of fibrous particles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of producing a rod of fibrous particles, particularly a filler rod which consists of shredded or otherwise comminuted particles of tobacco leaves, according to which a travelling stream of fibrous particles is converted into a continuous rod in such a way that successive increments of the rod contain identical amounts of tobacco.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of producing a rod of fibrous particles in such a way that each portion of the rod is compacted to the same extent and that the cross section of each portion of the rod has the same, or nearly the same, dimensions and configuration.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be utilized in practicing the above outlined method and wherein the surplus which is carried by a travelling stream of fibrous particles is removed in a novel and improved way.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is particularly suited for use in the production of a filler rod consisting of tobacco shreds and which can produce a rod without excessive comminution of fibrous particles.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with means for transporting a stream of fibrous particles, with means for subjecting the stream to a compacting or condensing action, and with means for removing the surplus from and for thus converting the stream into a rod of fibrous particles.

The method of my invention comprises the steps of forming a stream which contains a surplus of fibrous particles, conveying the stream lengthwise along a predetermined path, and removing the surplus at several sides of the stream to thus convert the stream into a rod. The removal of surplus is preferably carried out at two sides of the stream which are located opposite each other, preferably by resorting to mechanical removing devices which separate the surplus by a cutting action. The removing step is preferably carried out in a plurality of stages, i.e., along different portions of the aforementioned path so that the removal of surplus at one side of the stream precedes removal of surplus at the other side of the stream.

In accordance with another feature of my method, the stream is subjected to a compacting action, at least prior to removal of surplus at one of its sides. Such compacting action can be carried out by mechanical means or by conveying one or more currents of air across the travelling stream, preferably by suction. Such current or currents can perform a compacting action or merely a holding action which prevents the stream from leaving the path. The path may include a substantially horizontal portion and a second portion which is preferably arcuate and is located in a substantially vertical plane. Removal of surplus at one side of the stream preferably takes place along the horizontal portion and removal of surplus at the other side of the stream preferably takes place along the second portion of such path.

In accordance with still another feature of my invention, the method comprises the additional steps of measuring the amounts of particles in successive increments of the rod and regulating the removal of particles, at least from one side of the stream, as a function of the result of suchmeasurement. The surplus which is removed from the stream is preferably returned to the hopper or magazine of a distributor or to another source which discharges particles to form the stream.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 (composed of FIGS. la and lb) is a side elevational view of an apparatus which constitutes a cigarette rod machine and embodies one form of my invention, certain portions of the machine being shown in section; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified cigarette rod machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. ll shows a cigarette rod machine l which comprises a source 2 of shredded tobacco particles. This source 2 is a customary distributor which showers particles of shredded tobacco onto a horizontal first conveyor 3 whereon the thus showered particles form a narrow stream 4. The stream 4 contains a surplus of particles and is condensed by a compacting device 6 and is thereupon trimmed by a first trimming or surplus removing-device 7. This trimming device removes surplus at the exposed upper side 96 of the stream 4 in the region where the stream is acted upon by the compacting device 6. The stream is then transferred onto a second conveyor 8 and is again subjected to a compressing or condensing action by a second compacting device 9 before it reaches a second trimming or surplus removing device 11. The device 11 trims another side 97 of the tobacco stream to convert it into a filler rod 13 which is thereupon transported by a transfer conveyor 12 and enters a wrapping mechanism 14 which wraps a tape or web 16 of cigarette paper or the like around the filler rod 13 to convert it into a wrapped cigarette rod 21. The wrapping mechanism 14 comprises a customary paster 17 which applies a layer of adhesive to one marginal portion of the web 16, and a heat-sealing device 18. The cigarette rod 21 then passes through a testing unit 19 which detennines the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the rod. A cutoff 22 is installed downstream of the testing unit 19 to subdivide the rod 21 into sections 23 of unit length or multiple unit length.

The first conveyor 3 comprises an endless perforated belt 26 whose upper stretch constitutes the bottom wall of a horizontal or nearly horizontal channel 27 and which is trained over rollers 24, 25 and 28. The first compacting device 6 is a pneumatic device and includes a stationary suction chamber 29 located below the upper stretch of the belt 26 so as to produce a current of air which flows downwardly through the travelling tobacco stream 4.

The first trimming or surplus removing device 7 includes a rotary knife or cutter 31 having a substantially vertical shaft 32 carrying a pulley 34 which is driven by an V-belt 33. The latter is driven by a second pulley 36 on the shaft 37 of a worm wheel 38 which is rotated by a worm 39 on a shaft 41. The shaft 41 receives torque from the main drive of the cigarette rod machine and this shaft further carries a bracket 42 which is connected with an arm 43 forming part of a carrier 44 for the shafts 32, 37 of the trimming device 7. The arm 43 is biased by a helical spring 45 which tends to turn it in a counterclockwise direction (about the axis of the shaft 41) whereby a roller follower 46 on the arm 43 bears against the helically configurated face 48 of an adjusting cam 47. The shaft 49 of the adjusting cam 47 carries a sprocket wheel 51 which is driven by an endless chain 52. This chain is driven by a second sprocket wheel 56 on a horizontal shaft 53 which constitutes the output shaft of an electric regulating motor 54. The terminals of the winding in the motor 54 are connected with three current supplying leads 69 by way of conductors 68. The motor 54 is reversible and the direction of its rotation can also be selected by control switches 71, 75. These switches can connect the conductors 68 with second current supplying leads 72.

The shaft 53 for the sprocket wheel 56 carries a further sprocket wheel 57 which can be rotated by a second chain 58 trained over a sprocket wheel 61 on a shaft 59. This shaft 59 carries an indicator or index 62 which is movable along a fixed scale 63. The numeral 64 denotes a gear which can be rotated by a manually operated crank 66 and meshes with a gear 67 on the shaft 59. The index 62 points out the position of the knife 31 with reference to the belt 26. The scale 63 is calibrated to indicate different distances between the knife 31 and the upper stretch of the belt 26.

The second conveyor 8 comprises a suction wheel 73 which is installed in a vertical plane and is formed with a narrow circumferential groove 74 for the once trimmed tobacco stream 4. The aforementioned second compacting device 9 is a pneumatic device and comprises a stationary suction chamber 76 which is inwardly adjacent to the perforated annular bottom wall 77 in the groove 74 so that it draws a current of air radially inwardly through the stream 4 in the groove. The suction chamber 76 extends along an are 78 from a first transfer station A where the groove 74 receives tobacco from the belt 26 to a second transfer station E where the tiller stream 13 leaves the groove 74.

The second trimming or surplus removing device 11 comprises a rotary knife or cutter 131 whose shaft 132 is driven by a V-belt 133 by way of a pulley 134. The belt 133 is trained over a second pulley 136 on a shaft 137 which is mounted in the arm 143 of a carrier 144. The arm 143 has a bracket 142 which is pivotable about the axis of the shaft 141 for a worm 139 which drives a worm wheel 138 on the shaft 137 of the pulley 136. The arm 143 is biased by a helical spring 145 and has a roller follower 146 which bears against the face 148 of an adjusting cam 147 mounted on a shaft 149. The worm 139 is driven by the main drive of the cigarette rod machine. The shaft 149 carries a sprocket wheel 151 for an endless chain 152 which is driven by a sprocket wheel 156 on a shaft 153. The latter carries a further sprocket wheel 157 for a second endless chain 158 which can be driven by a sprocket wheel 161 on a shaft 159. This shaft is rigid with an index 162 movable along a fixed scale 163. A gear 164 which is rotatable by a manually operated crank 166 meshes with a gear 167 on the shaft 159. The shaft 153 can be driven by an electric regulating motor 154 which is reversible and is rotated in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction, for example, in response to actuation of control switches 171, 175 which can connect the leads 69 with current supplying leads 172.

The cam 147 can change the inclination of the carrier 144 and hence the amount of tobacco which are removed by the knife 131 of the trimming device 11.

The transfer conveyor 12 comprises an endless perforated band 83 which is trained over rollers 81, 82 and has a lower stretch travelling along the open underside of a stationary suction chamber 84. The wrapping mechanism 14 includes rollers 86, 87, 88 for a garniture tape 89 whose upper stretch transports the web 16 and the filler rod 13 along the paster l7 and heabsealing device 18. At least one of the rollers 81, 82 is driven to advance the band 83 in the direction indicated by arrows. The roller 86 is also driven to transport the upper stretch of the tape 89 in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1.

The aforementioned testing unit 19 preferably comprises a source of corpuscular radiation (e.g., beta rays) and measures the tobacco contents of the cigarette rod 21 in the well-known manner (throughout equals the amount of tobacco per unit length multiplied by the length of the testing station). The receiver which cooperates with the source of beta rays in the testing unit 19 transmits signals to a stabilizer 91 which transmits modified signals indicating the quantity of tobacco shreds in successive increments of the cigarette rod 21 to an integrating circuit 92 which is further connected with a rated value setting device 93. The integrator 92 produces output signals which are indicative of differences between desired and measured quantities of tobacco per unit length of the cigarette rod 21, and such output signals are amplified in an amplifier circuit 94 which is connected with the leads 69. The amplifier circuit 94 transmits positive or negative signals (current impulses) which cause the motor 154 to rotate the shaft 153 in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction to thereby change the distance between the knife 131 and the bottom wall 77 in the groove 74 of the second conveyor 8. It will be noted that the knife 31 of the first trimming device 7 removes surplus tobacco from a first side 96 of the tobacco stream 4 and that the knife 131 removes tobacco from a second side 97 of the stream 4, namely from that side which is located opposite the side 96.

The operation The distributor 2 showers tobacco shreds onto the upper stretch of a wide belt 20 which travels in a direction at right angles to the plane of FIG. 1 and accumulates a wide carpet or mat 4a of tobacco shreds. The belt 2a showers the leading end of the carpet 4a into the channel 27 wherein the thus showered shreds form the narrow stream 4 which advances lengthwise along a horizontal path with the upper stretch of the perforated belt 26 whereby the exposed upper side 96 of the stream 4 moves past the first trimming station C which accommodates the knife 31 of the trimming device 7. The stream 4 is compacted by the current of air which flows through the channel 27 and into the suction chamber 29. The knife 31 removes the surplus from the upper side 96 of the Stream 4 and the thus removed surplus is preferably returned into the hopper of the distributor 2 by a pneumatic conveyor, not shown. The amount of surplus tobacco which is removed by the knife 31 can be adjusted manually by rotating the crank 66 in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the crank 66 causes angular displacement of the adjusting cam 47 which cooperates with the spring 45 to change the angular position of the carrier 44 and hence the distance between the cutting edge of the revolving knife 31 and the upper stretch of the belt 26. The distance is indicated by the index 62 on the scale 63.

The thus trimmed tobacco stream 4 is transported toward the suction wheel 73 and enters the groove 74 at the first transfer station A to move along an arcuate path located in a vertical plane. The stream is held in the groove 74 by suction produced in the chamber 76. The trimmed side 96 of the stream 4 is adjacent to the bottom wall 77 in the groove 74 and the stream advances past the second trimming station D which accommodates the knife 13]. The cutting edge of this knife 131 equalizes the second side 97 of the stream 4, namely, that side which was adjacent to the upper stretch of the belt 26 during travel of corresponding portion of the stream 4 in the channel 27 of the first conveyor 3. The surplus which is removed by the knife 131 is preferably returned to the hopper of the distributor 2, for example, by a suitable pneumatic conveyor, not shown.

The trimming device 11 converts the stream 4 into a filler rod 13 which is removed from the topmost portion of the groove 74 by the lower stretch of the endless perforated band 83 which advances below the suction chamber 84. The filler stream 13 is then delivered onto the web 16 which overlies the upper stretch of the garniture tape 89. The wrapping mechanism 14 transforms the web 16 into a tubular wrapper with overlapping marginal portions at least one of which is coated with adhesive during travel along the paster 17. The heat-sealing device 18 expels surplus moisture from the resulting seam and completes the conversion of filler rod 13 into the cigarette rod 21. Successive increments of the rod 21 advances through the testing unit 19 and the cigarette rod is then severed at predetennined intervals by the orbiting knife 22a of the cutoff 22 to yield a succession of cigarette rod sections 23 of unit length or multiple unit length.

The aforementioned stabilizer 91 receives signals from the receiver of the testing unit 19 and eliminates minor fluctuations from such signals prior to transmitting a modified signal to the integrator circuit 92. This circuit compares signals from the stabilizing unit 91 with signals from the rated value setting device 93 and transmits to the amplifier circuit 94 signals which indicate deviations between the measured quantity of tobacco per unit length of the rod 21 and the desired quantity. Depending on the extent and the nature (positive for negative) of such signals, the amplifier circuit 94 produces current impulses which are used to control the regulating motor 154 for the adjusting cam 147. This cam changes the angular position of the carrier 144 with reference to the shaft 141 and thereby adjusts the distance between the cutting edge of the knife 131 and the bottom wall 77 in the groove 74 of the suction wheel 73. The operator can adjust the position of the knife 131 independently of the motor 154 by rotating the crank 166 in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction. Adjustments which are carried out by the crank 166 override the adjustments which are carried out in response to signals from the testing unit 19. The same result can be achieved by manually closing the control switch 171 or 175 which thereby connects the winding of the regulating motor 154 with the supply leads 172. Thus, the angular position of the carrier 144 for the knife 131 of the trimming device 11 can be adjusted by hand via crank 166 and without starting the regulating motor 154 or by way of the motor 154, either in response to closing of the switch 171 or 175 or automatically in response to signals from the testing unit 19.

The angular position of the carrier 44 for the cutter or knife 31 of the first trimming device 7 can be adjusted by hand through the intermediary of the crank 66 or by way of the regulating motor 54 in response to closing of the control switch 71 or 75 or in response to signals from the amplifier circuit 94 which are transmitted to the motor 54 by way of conductors 68. It will be seen that the amplifier circuit 94 can transmit signals to the regulating motor 54 and/or 154. At the present time, I prefer to adjust the motor 154 automatically in response to signals from the amplifier circuit 94 and to adjust the motor 54 by hand, either from the crank 66 or by way of control switches 71, 75.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a second cigarette rod machine 201 wherein the pneumatic compacting devices 6 and 9 of FIG. 1 are replaced by mechanical compacting devices 206, 209. The adjusting and regulating means for the two trimming or surplus removing devices 207, 211 are not shown in FIG. 2; these adjusting and regulating means are preferably constructed and operated in the same way as described in connection with FIG. 1. Those parts of the machine shown in FIG. 2 which are clearly analogous to corresponding parts of the machine shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by similar reference numerals plus 200.

The first compacting device 206 comprises a shoe or runner 501 which engages the upper side 296 of the tobacco stream 204 and is mounted on a holder 506. The shoe 501 is biased downwardly by helical springs 502, 503 whose bias can be adjusted by nuts 504, 505. These nuts also serve to select the minimal distance between the upper stretch of the belt 226 and the underside of the shoe 501. The suction chamber 29 of FIG. 2 is omitted or is employed only in the region where the stream 204 is formed, i.e., in the region immediately below the discharge end of the belt 2020. Thus, the trimmed stream 204 is transported into the groove 274 of the suction wheel 273 only by the upper stretch of the belt 226. This belt 226 at the same time performs an important function in the second compacting device 208. As shown in FIG. 2, the belt 226 is trained over rollers 507, 508, 228, 225 and 509 and a substantial part of its upper stretch extends along the groove 274 in the peripheral surface of the suction wheel 273 so that such part of the belt 226 subjects the trimmed stream 204 to a mechanical compacting action. The freshly trimmed side 296 of the stream 204 enters the groove 274 at the transfer station A but the belt 226 continues to remain in engagement with the opposite side 297 of the stream 204 all the way to a point (roller 507) which is located slightly upstream of the knife 331 of the second trimming device 211.

It is clear that the rod forming machine of my invention may comprise mechanical and pneumatic compacting devices; for example, the machine of FIG. 1 may employ the compacting devices 6, 209 or 206, 9, and the same holds true for the machine of FIG. 2. Furthermore, the suction chamber 76 of FIG. 1 can be used only as a holding means for preventing ejection of the stream 4 from the groove 74 while the stream advances toward the second trimming device 11, i.e., suction in the chamber 76 need not perform any compacting action. Also, the suction chamber 76 can terminate upstream of the second trimming device 11. Still further, the mechanical compacting devices 206, 209 of FIG. 2 can be replaced by other types of mechanical compacting devices, for example, by rollers of conventional form. It is equally within the purview of my invention to employ suction in the region where the distributor 2 or 202 discharges tobacco into the channel 27 or 227 and to terminate suction immediately downstream or close to the distributor. The transport of stream 4 or 204 from the point where the suction is terminated and all the way toward and past the second trimming device is then performed exclusively by mechanical means. The machine then employs mechanical compacting devices. As stated before, the compacting means of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may include pneumatic and mechanical compacting devices. For example, the machine may include the mechanical compacting device 206 of FIG. 2 and the pneumatic compacting device 9 of FIG. 1 or vice versa. The pneumatic compacting device can extend toward, along and even beyond the second trimming device.

An important advantage of the improved rod cigarette machine is that it produces a filler rod 13 or 213 wherein the quantity of tobacco shreds varies less than in conventionally produced filler rods. This is due to the fact that the machine comprises several trimming devices each of which equalizes a different side of the tobacco stream. It was found that the weight per unit length of the cigarette rod which is produced in my machine deviates less from a desired weight than the weight of cigarette rods which are produced in conventional machines. Furthermore, it was found that, in spite of repeated trimming, the filler rod 13 or 214 contains a surprisingly small percentage of short tobacco shreds.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A method of producing a rod of fibrous particles, particularly of producing a filler rod which consists of shredded tobacco particles, comprising the steps of forming an elongated filler stream containing a surplus of fibrous particles and having a longitudinal axis and a polygonal cross-sectional form providing a plurality of sides on opposite sides of said axis; conveying the filler stream along a first path with one of said sides being exposed and thereupon along a second path with another of said sides being exposed; removing some of the surplus at said one side of the stream in a region adjacent to said first path; and removing at least some of the remaining surplus at said other side of the stream in a region adjacent to said second path to thus convert the stream into a rod.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising compacting the filler stream in at least one of said paths upstream of the respective region.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising subjecting the filler stream to a pneumatic compacting action in at least one of said paths upstream of the respective region.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of subjecting the filler stream in said paths to the action of suction to hold the stream against movement away from said paths.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said last-mentioned step comprises conveying a first air current across the filler stream in said first path so that the current enters the stream by way of said one side and conveying a second air current across the filler stream in said second path so that the second current enters the stream by way of said other side.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said one side of the filler stream is disposed diametrically opposite said other side.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said removing steps comprises mechanically removing the surplus from the stream.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring the amount of particles in successive increments of the rod and regulating the removal of particles, at least from one side of the stream, as a function of the result of said measurement.

9. Apparatus for producing a rod of fibrous particles, particularly for producing a filler rod of shredded tobacco particles, comprising means for forming an elongated filler stream containing a surplus of fibrous particles and having a longitudinal axis and a polygonal cross sectional form providing a plurality of sides on opposite sides of said axis; conveyor means for advancing the filler stream along a first path with one of said sides being exposed and thereupon along a second path with another of said sides being exposed; a first removing device arranged to remove from said one side some of the surplus in a region adjacent to said first path; and a second removing device arranged to remove from said other side at least some of the remaining surplus in a region adjacent to said second path to thus convert the filler stream into a rod.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said conveyor means comprises a first conveyor which defines said first path and comprises means for conveying across the filler stream a first current of suction air which enters the stream by way of said one side, and a second conveyor which defines said second path and comprises means for conveying across the filler stream a second current of suction air which enters the stream by way of said other side.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said conveyors is an endless conveyor, said means for conveying said first current of suction air comprising a first suction chamber adjacent to said other side of the filler stream and said means for conveying said second current of suction air comprising a second suction chamber adjacent to said one side of the filler stream.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9; wherein each of said removing devices is a mechanical removing device.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising compacting means for subjecting the stream to a compacting action in the region of at least one of said removing devices.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said compacting means comprises mechanical compacting means located upstream of at least one of said removing devices.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherern at least one of said removing devices is adjustable and further comprising testing means for measuring the amount of particles in successive increments of the rod and adjusting means for adjusting said one regulating device as a function of the result of measurement performed by said testing means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said adjusting means is arranged to adjust the one removing device in such a way that each increment of the rod contains a predetermined amount of particles. 

1. A method of producing a rod of fibrous particles, particularly of producing a filler rod which consists of shredded tobacco particles, comprising the steps of forming an elongated filler stream containing a surplus of fibrous particles and having a longitudinal axis and a polygonal cross-sectional form providing a plurality of sides on opposite sides of said axis; conveying the filler stream along a first path with one of said sides being exposed and thereupon along a second path with another of said sides being exposed; removing some of the surplus at said one side of the stream in a region adjacent to said first path; and removing at least some of the remaining surplus at said other side of the stream in a region adjacent to said second path to thus convert the stream into a rod.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising compacting the filler stream in at least one of said paths upstream of the respective region.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising subjecting the filler stream to a pneumatic compacting action in at least one of said paths upstream of the respective region.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of subjecting the filler stream in said paths to the action of suction to hold the stream against movement away from said paths.
 5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said last-mentioned step comprises conveying a first air current across the filler stream in said first path so that the current enters the stream by way of said one side and conveying a second air current across the filler stream in said second path so that the second currenT enters the stream by way of said other side.
 6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said one side of the filler stream is disposed diametrically opposite said other side.
 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said removing steps comprises mechanically removing the surplus from the stream.
 8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring the amount of particles in successive increments of the rod and regulating the removal of particles, at least from one side of the stream, as a function of the result of said measurement.
 9. Apparatus for producing a rod of fibrous particles, particularly for producing a filler rod of shredded tobacco particles, comprising means for forming an elongated filler stream containing a surplus of fibrous particles and having a longitudinal axis and a polygonal cross sectional form providing a plurality of sides on opposite sides of said axis; conveyor means for advancing the filler stream along a first path with one of said sides being exposed and thereupon along a second path with another of said sides being exposed; a first removing device arranged to remove from said one side some of the surplus in a region adjacent to said first path; and a second removing device arranged to remove from said other side at least some of the remaining surplus in a region adjacent to said second path to thus convert the filler stream into a rod.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said conveyor means comprises a first conveyor which defines said first path and comprises means for conveying across the filler stream a first current of suction air which enters the stream by way of said one side, and a second conveyor which defines said second path and comprises means for conveying across the filler stream a second current of suction air which enters the stream by way of said other side.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said conveyors is an endless conveyor, said means for conveying said first current of suction air comprising a first suction chamber adjacent to said other side of the filler stream and said means for conveying said second current of suction air comprising a second suction chamber adjacent to said one side of the filler stream.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said removing devices is a mechanical removing device.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising compacting means for subjecting the stream to a compacting action in the region of at least one of said removing devices.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said compacting means comprises mechanical compacting means located upstream of at least one of said removing devices.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said removing devices is adjustable and further comprising testing means for measuring the amount of particles in successive increments of the rod and adjusting means for adjusting said one regulating device as a function of the result of measurement performed by said testing means.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said adjusting means is arranged to adjust the one removing device in such a way that each increment of the rod contains a predetermined amount of particles. 